The extent of the Tsunami Evacuation Zones have changed

The tsunami evacuation zones for Thorndon/Pipitea we used in 2014/15 were based a regional modelling project undertaken in 2008. The inundation estimates were based on an empirical ‘rule-based’ tsunami height attenuation modelling technique.

However the latest definition for the tsunami evacuation zones are a little different. These have been calculated using more detailed hydrodynamic inundation modelling of Wellington Harbour undertaken in 2015.

The consequence is that a significant number residences, and three schools, no longer fall into a tsunami evacuation zone.

The greatest changes were for the yellow zone which is primarily for self-evacuation in the event of a strongly-felt or long-duration earthquake, or when a forecast of a distant-source tsunami of above a specific threat level is issued.